My impression is that is that they defeated their enemies by inflicting death by a thousand paper cuts and if attacked they just scarpered. So would any one know, I certainly don't, how often were Cossacks caught by formed cavalry and what the results were?

My impression is that is that they defeated their enemies by inflicting death by a thousand paper cuts and if attacked they just scarpered. So would any one know, I certainly don't, how often were Cossacks caught by formed cavalry and what the results were?

The regular cavalry could hardly catch the Cossacks. After the Cossacks turned to flight, they rode away very quickly in full disorder, trying to disperse as wide as possible. If the regular cavalry tried to keep their formation, they rode not fast enough to catch the Cossacks. It the regular cavalry broke their formation and dispersed to ride faster, the Cossacks could suddenly switch from flight to counterattack, and as individual horsemen and fighters they were on average superior to the regular cavalry. French cavalry officer Antoine de Brack explained that if one sees the Cossacks dispersing in full flight, he should not think that they had lost their confidence and courage: this is their usual method of retreat, very dangerous to those who would try to pursue them. Brack A. F. de, Avant-postes de Cavalerie Légère. Souvenirs. Paris, 1831, p. 110.

If the Cossacks scatter in their retreat in proportion as your attacks are prolonged, do not suppose that it is because they have lost confidence or courage; it is their way of retiring, a very dangerous one for the enemy in pursuit, who has too often cause to repent of his audacity.If, on the contrary, other European troops do not rally promptly in a retreat, it is a proof of demoralisation, and they should then be vigourously pursued.

If the Cossacks, in their retreat, keep breaking up more and more the longer you pursue them, do not infer from that that they have lost confidence and courage: it is their way of retreating, and a very dangerous one for their pursuers, who may very often have good reason to repent of their boldness. If, on the contrary, other European troops do not rally promptly in retreat, it is a proof of demoralization, and they must then be vigorously pushed.